The Rose Window of Medieval Europe by Julia Hale If you’ve ever seen detailed photographs of Paris’s Notre Dame cathedral, you may have noticed a striking feature of the building: large, circular windows divided by intricately arranged stonework radiating out from a central point like flower petals. The stonework encases colorful stained-glass windowpanes full of Catholic icons and symbolism. Called a “rose window,” this adornment can be found in cathedrals across Europe, although the style was most popular in France. The rose window is a key element of “Gothic architecture,” a highly ornate style of architecture popular from Europe’s High Middle Ages to the Late Middle Ages, roughly 11th century to 15th century. During that era, most artistic expression was primarily reserved for religious artwork and buildings, and the rose window was no exception. The ground plan of Medieval European cathedrals is usually laid out in the shape of a cross, with rose windows often incorporated into the facades and transepts of the building. Notre Dame has several rose windows facing north, south, and west, with the south window being the most famous and measuring 13 meters in diameter. The windows are all illuminated by natural light throughout the day, casting colorful light onto the walls and floor of the cathedral. Despite their association with Gothic churches and Catholicism, historians believe that rose windows were inspired by early architectural styles from the Roman Empire and various Islamic empires that came afterward. Indeed, intricate window designs similar to rose windows appeared in the Middle East some 500 years before the construction of Notre Dame began. At the time, Islamic and Christian empires often fought each other. Nonetheless, the popularity of the rose window demonstrates that artistic expression can transcend time, culture, and religion.